davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-02-12

forced their way farther up the abatis, then
wayercd and fell back once more.
\ curious fact added to the complications
of the fight at DonclSOn. The Confederate
forces were largely uniformed in brown jeans.
The dead leaves of the scrub oak We're almost
the exact color of this cloth. The Federal
forces therefore, in climbing the abatis. could
not tell what was leaves and what was Con
fcdelate soldiers till line of fire IN their faces
told them the difference.
The third time MorriSon'S brigade Stormed
the heights This time they climbed quite to
the rifle pits. The line in front cf them was
one sheet of fire, awful and deadly. Just
then muskrt ball struck Col. Morrison in the
hip. The future Illinois political leader rcelcd
in his saddle and then fell tot the ground That
ended the desperate assault, and Maney's bat
terry remained untaken
Another of the curious incidents Of war,
and a sad one, happened here. The flashes
from the guns set fire to the thicllly cluster
ing dead leaves. They famed up like dry
straw, consuming the dead, diving and
wounded soldiers who lay about in some spots
as thiclly as hie leaves themselves A con
siderable number of the helpless ones were
burned to death. Col. lehman, who had dis
tnGulsnCu himself AT fOft Henry, was III
command of the Confederates at Maney's bat
terry. His men leaped over in front of their
works, after the assault, and saved such as
they could
SO the night of Thursday, the 18th, came
and wore away. Up TO the arrival Of Lew
Wallace, on Friday, the Federal forces en-
gagged numbered only 1900 men. The enemy
did not know it, but they were without sup
plies The roads were too heavy to transport
food aud munitions, and these had been sent
around 10y water The morning Of the nth
the Union soldiers were absolutely without
food
During the night a storm Of snow and Sleet
came on, II was terrible. The men had not
dared To sleep during the night They could
not build fires, for these would have been
merely many targets for musketry and ar
| tillery from the fort. There were no shelter
tents for them. Dawn found them numb and
stiff with the cold, their clothing wet through
to the skin and frozen on their backs Col
| Crafts J. Wright, Thirteenth Missouri, sat
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-02-12

gether for counsel 1t was held with all three
generals on horseback. Grant seemed ex-
cited, and as nearly nervous as Grant could be.
His face was very serious, almost overcast.
He held handful OF dispatches and seemed
in profound thought All at once a light
broke over the commanders face, and then
all was serene again. OF this moment he
told Gen. Sherman afterwards
Il saw that either side was ready to giveup
if the other showed a bold front, and | deter
mined to do that very thing"
So the commander became strong and
serene again, as usual Instantly there was
activity. Gen. c. F, Smiths forces on the
right of the Federal line had not yet
taken part in the fight They We're ordered
up. Gen Smith himself, with long, gray hair,
a color bearer by his side, rode along the front
of his line, striking, inspiring figure. He
told his men he himself would lead them, and
directed them when near enough to charge
bayonet on the rifle pits. The signal was
given, the column moved forward and was
met by a roar of musketry from the rifle
pits.
Col. futile was in the lead with his Second
Iowa regiment The advancing line wavered
a moment under the fire that moved it down,
then steadied and went irreSiStibly on. When
within range of the Confederate nuskets Col.
futile shouted to his men, Forward" Then
they made the rafting bayOnet charge. 1t
drove the ConfederateS from their works and
Smiths men occupied them In the midst Of
cheers and shouts from the whole division the
Stars and Stripes were planted upon the
works OF Fort Donelson. Thus it was all
over with the Confederate right.
Over on the Federal right McClernaHd's di-
vision had been swept from the ground it &C.
cupied in the morning Although Lew Wal
lace's men had checked the retreat there and
stopped the sortie, yet the ground held by
McClernand in the morning had not been re-
taken. Grant ordered Lew Wallace TO retake
il. As soon as Gen. Smiths division began to
move, Wallace was TO attack too. Thus the
Confederates would he engaged on both right
and left. Grant rode down the river TO see
that Smith was carrying ont the order on his
side then ne hurried up to the right to watch
Wallaces men execute their command.
At noon it looked as if victory was perChed
on the Confederate standard The Wynn's
Ferry road, which had been occupied by Nc
Clernand, was open for the Confederate re-
treat Buckner had accomplished what he
had been ordered 10 do The time just before
Grant ordered the renewed attack in the az
tsrnoon had been the golden moment for es-
cape 1t was lost. Bucsner had halted, wait
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-02-12

The mortar boat got It's name from the gun
il carried First heavy wooden float was
built Upon it were erected very thick
wooden walls These sloped inward and were
about sight feet high. They were plated with
heavy iron. Inside was single heavy NOR
tar, with ammunition below the water line
There was also tent for the gunncrs within
the walls
These mortar boats were considered for
midable twenty-five years ago But such Is
the improvement made since then in dcstruc-
tive warfare that one shot from even mod
crate sized gun Of the kind now made would
knock an old fashioned mortar boat into
flinders.
One youthful Confederate gunner ais.
tinguished himself CALAMITY at the lower
water battery at Fort Donel,on. While
Foote's glmboats we're peppering the batter
les to the right and left, tins youth, John G.
Frequa, stood perfectly straight at his gun.
taking aim and firing as coolly as ii he had
been squirrel hunting.
"Now, boys, said he, see ME take chin
ney"
He aimed at the smokeSteck Of an sdvanc.
ing gunboat 1t fell, carrying with it the
flag Frequs threw his cap in the air, yelling
dshsntly.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-02-12
IHE PREPARATION.

Turn to your map You will 're TINT the
tennessee and Cumberland rivers run through
ihc state of Kentucky side aid side, like twin
sisters. They empty into the Ohio not far
apart They come near together first inside
ahe Tennessee line, and flow through that
state close beside each other The Tennrs-
see forms part of the boundary between the
awo states TOR some distance, On the Ten
lseNsee side, just opposite where the corner Of
Kentucky begins was Fort Henry, Twelve
miles across from it, slightly north Of east,
was Fort Donelson, on the Cumberland
Henry was on the right bank Of the rrnnes-
see, while Donelson WAS on the LIT bank OF
,.he Cumberland.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-02-12
FOUR DAYS, FIGHTING.

To ten the TRUTH army officers do not
always write the clrarcst English, not even,
alas! regular army officers,
ltsdlncult, thc,niore for the historian -
gather from the colonrlN' and hrlgadicr gcucr-
ais reports, just how Il battle was fought and
how and where the troops stood. Grants re-
ports and orders, what there are Of them, are
models Of clcarncss, brcyty and simplicity.
From them we gain more clear healed knowl-
edge than from most of the rest
Immediately on the fall of Fort Henry,
Gen. llulcck began forwarding fresh troops
and supplies as fast rs possible for the rcduc-
ton Of Donclson. Boys, on whose cheeks the
rose had not yet given place to tan, regiments,
as Judge Force says, 80 freshly formed that
they had hardly changed their civil Sarb for
soldiers Uniform were hurried to the front
to help out Grant at Donclson.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-02-12
FORT D0NELS0N.
Twenty-ffth Anniversary Of the
Great Siege,
THE STORY TOLD ONCE MORE
When, Where and How the Famous
Battle Was Fought.
THE STORY TOLD ONCE MORl

Men who Artcrward became Distin'
guished That Took Part in it-Poiiti'
cal Leaders, Senators, Governors and
Presidents That Were to Ec--"Either
Side Ready to Give Jp"-I'rom Henry
90 Donclson--The sortic That FAILED.
Blue and Gray.
Once again the young people gather around
and listen while veteran lips tell the story Of
Fort Donclson, That story was mad, twenty
hya years ago this February
The writers and racouteurs have preserved
che history more faithfully than the map
nahcrs have, Neither Fort Henry nor Fort
D1url,ou is marked upon the newest aliases
Mature herself la, not obliterated their traces
- speedily. The trees yet stand as Scared
veterans of the mighty fight Bullet mark,
stump and broken limb are yet 20 be seen
when IA winter they are unc!al Of kindly
loaf and vine
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-02-12

Immediately after the surrender Grant.
McClernand and Wallace were made major
generals Grants commission was dated Feb.
IL and he was Immediately placed in Chargs
of the military district Of west Tennessee.
Numbers of soldiers We're buried on the
field where they fell Some of their graves are
still to he seen. But of the earthworks and
lines of Notifications at Donelson there II
scarcely a trace Even 50 from the hearts OF
the contestants that day have faded out the
traces of the lines which separated them
Years ago Buckner forgave Grant. When
the northern commander was buried, year
and half ago, prominent among the pail
bearers, who walked with measured tread be-
side the honOred dead, were to be seen the
soldierly figure and strong, fine face OF Gen.
Buckner.
I'm preparing the story Of DonelSon. materials
have been gathered from many sources. but espe-
cialy from official documents published by The
United States government from Judge Forces
book From Henry To Corinth," Lossngs Civil
War in America, old files Of The New York Trih-
une and Hsrper's Pictorial History Of the Wa.
Tho illustrations are chiefly from Mr. Lossinys
history!
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-02-12

ing for his artillery and rescr,elto follow him
out Of the intrenchments, Pillow had tele-
graphed \, :. Johnston; "On the honor 81 q
soldier, the day is ours"
All at once Gen, Pillow sent Buckner word
to come back and take up his position within
the works He could only obey. As he fell
back with his men he met Gen. Floyd. Floyd
was surprised, and asked what he was about.
He ordered Buckner to stay whore he was till
he, Floyd, could see Pillow. Thus there was
more waiting Finally Buckner, the fighting
general, was ordered to cross to the extreme
Confederate right and stop Gen. Smith, who
was storming the works.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-02-12
FOOTE'S FLOTlLlA.

The Union gunboats had done great service
at Henry. At Doneison the fleet did not DIS
tinguish itself greatly, except by conveying
transports containing troops
While Grant, with 1900 men, pl'"eh
across the mud sea between Henry and Donel-
son by land he sent Foote with six gunboats
around by water They were obliged to go
down the Tennessee AMI up the Ohio n short
distance TO the mouth of the Cumberland To
Fort Douelson. Foote had TO make circuit
Of $50 miles to 80 twelve.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-02-12
Got no, vour hearts lie troubled We believe

sIet not your hearts lie troubled Ye believe
in God, believe also in me"
Then he came down from the pulpit and
made ready his boats for the expedition
against Doneson, which surrendered Feb, 10,
Just one week from that Sunday morning.
Engineers Of the Confederate service agree
that the site of Fort Donc!son was badly
chosen. 1t stood upon n river blulf The
situation was elevated, TO be sure, but there
was ring OF hills around it, nj from one TO
five miles distance, These hills were higher
than the bluff upon which the fort was, and
convenient for the enemy to plant guns
upon,
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-02-12
PLAN OF SIEGE.

Feb II, 1862, the general order was given
Grants men to march from Henry to DUne-
son. There were two roads; one, the Wynns
Ferry road, leading to Dover south Of Fort
Donclson, the other north of II some dis
lance The two came together not far from
the fort the northern road leading directly
to the fort
Along these two roads the men marched,
starting the morning Of Feb. II. The First
and Second divilons moved forward The
FIRST division was commanded by Gen John
A. McClcrnand, tho Second by Gen. c. +.
Smith. They moved forward, Netherlands
division by the right hand or southerly road,
Smiths by the nOrtherly or left hand road,
They came together two and one-half miles
from Donelson Netherlands forces took
the right wing south Of Donelson, Smiths the
left wing north of Donelson. Later word
was sent to Gen Lew Wallace, who had re
manned at Fort Henry, to bring up the Third
division. He arrived ON the 18th friday
and took position with his division in the
center.
Thus the Federal forces invested DonelScu
in form Of a crescent 4 diagram OF their
position would show them as follows:
Smiths division.
WallaCe's division. Donelson.
McClernand's division
There was some skirmishing on the evening
Of the 18th between the pickets of the two
armies On the 18th the battle began in
earnest Col VIM. K. Morrison, Of the
Forty-ninth regiment Of Illinois Volunteers,
had charge Of a brigade that day in McCler
nand's division. His brigade had some of the
toughest work of the whole Doneson fight
Their work was to assault Maney's battery,
on the Confederate left, at once the most con
Spicuous and inaccessible of the entire line of
works They started to climb up hill over
the tangled and terrible BLACK jack abatis.
A double fire of battery and infantry raked
them fore and aft Once they fell back, and
were REINFORCED Four regiments started up
the hill a second time. They were met with
"A hotter fire than before, Shrapne and rifle
balls flew into their teeth thick as bail They
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-02-12

Again the ncrvy boy took aim, clear and
straight Shortly he sent bah directly
through portfolio, and then the sunboat fell
back disabled The portfolios OF the boat,
Mero auLtc Lnrge
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-02-12
THE CAROSDFLET.

The Carondelet is good illustration OF the
old fashioned gunboat. 1t was the first to
arrive on the morning of Thursday, Feb. Is
II opened fire Ii may be mentioned that the
old Carondelet, with the same commander,
Cant Wake. was also the first to afterward
pass down the river under the batteries at
VickSburg.
The rest OF Foote'S fleet with the trans
ports, containing six regiments OF soldiers,
arrived Thursday evening. Fridny morning
the Presbyterian flag officer opened fire from
his fleet of six gunboats, four lronclads and
two wooden ones There was a severe fight
OF an hour and a half, which did not result in
a brilliant success for the fleet The boats
engaged were the ironcladS st Louis, Caron-
delet Louisville and PittshurC. and the
wooden boats Tyler and ConcStoGa. -Four OF
the boats were disabled The first fire from
the Carondeet had disabled one Of In"
3!-rounder, in the water batteries. The
same shot instantly killed Lieut., Joseph
Dixon, brave Confederate officer and the
accomplished local engineer who bad assisted
in preparing the dcfcnseS Of Don"loon. That
was about the only damage apparently done
by the fleet Then Commander toote drew
or the remains Of it and dropped down ont
Of range.
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-01-15

1t will be remembered that when
the Democratic Senators met in caucus
in Na1hyille, Gen. Quarles was called to
the chair. In that caucus, which nomi-
mated Speaker Ewing, one of the
Senators, in speech highly common
datory of Gen. Quarles, speaking OF his
past services and ability, his faithful
performance OF all the duties OF his life,
both in peace and in war, proposed that
he be declared the nominee for speaker
OF the Senate by reclamation.
AS soon as the Senator paused Gen.
Quarles promptly declined to put before
the caucus such a resolution, or permit
any one else to do so, as the proceeding
was under a regular order OF business
and while he was profoundly grateful
to the senator's for their kindness he de-
sired to say that he was not a candidate
for speaker and would not allow his
name to be so used any longer and re-
leased all those who felt themselves UNI
der any obligation to vote for him
saying that he had his hands full in his
public duties and certain private bust
ness recently devolving upon him
which would require all his attention.
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-01-15

On the 25th ballot Mrs. Sue 2. Lowe,
OF Robertson county was elected Libra
rian. The American says of her:
Mrs. Sue p. Lowe, who was elected
librarian, after one of the most active
contests ever witnessed in the State, is
daughter OF Rev. George Stevens, a
Methodist minister of Christian
County Ky. She was married in May,
1866, to W. B. Lowe the former clerk
and master OF the Chancery Court Of
Robertson County. After her marriage
she lived in the latter county for nearly
twenty years, and during that time
formed some OF those strong friendships
that have just proven 80 valuable when,
from necessity, she saw fit to ask of the
Legislature the Office of librarian. In
1866 her husband, who had been fol-
lowed for years by disease which he
could not shake off, died on the rail
road train on his way home from
Florida. His long sickness had greatly
reduced him in circumstances, and
after his death this noble woman took
the money she received from the in
suance on his life and paid it over to
settle his debts, saying that "nos one
blot should be left on the dead husbands
name even for the sake OF living wife
and eight living children.
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-01-15

HopKINsvILLE is not very far from
Guthrie, and it will be remembered
that the man who wanted to go to the
devil was put off at Guthrie, the con-
ductor considering that the nearest
station. Louisville Times.
And the sinner who first made up
that story on Guthrie has been over
taken in lis wickedness. He is mar
ried to a red headed woman OF the
whoop-em-up persuasion and her
wretcned husband has long ago got past
a belief in future State-he realizes
that life with him Is perpetual now.
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-01-15

THERE is an old saying that "some-
times what you lose in meal you'll make
up in malt, and this will be true Of the
farmers in this section and in Southern
Kentucky if the Interstate Commerce
bill become law While lug tobacco
would not pay for shipping to New
York, the "short-haul" rates on West
ern wheat would keepit out Of com,
petition with the crop raised by the
farmers of Tennessee and Kentucky.
This freight business is about the only
thing on earth that n newspaper man
can't figure out as plain as a Sunday
school lesson. These freight figures
somehow testify strongly in both direc-
lions
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-01-15

Safes Democrat The Banner turns
loose two columns of anti-caucus clip
pings from, as that paper pleases to
say, the country press. A careful in.
spectiOn reveals the fact that the articles
have been saved for months to fire at
timid members OF the Legislature with
the purpose Of deceiving. Nine-tenths
of the country papers are in favor OF a
caucus.
Evidently the Banner man has been
collecting all this bosh for the last
month, Saving it for the conference"
so to speak. The whole effort of the
Banner appears to be an attempt to
bluff country members by this display
OF FalstatI's recruits. The people have
been betrayed in the Tennessee Legis-
latures. Old precedents can be cited in
such cases, even among the chosen
disciples. Doubling Thomas was a
mugwump; Judas sold his leader for
fifteen dollars in cash; and Peter told
lies and swore to them until the chick
ems crowed for day.
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-01-15

THE clause in the Interstate Com
merce bill regarding long haul's il
creating an excitement in tobacco cir
Giles. II it cost $3.50 per hundred
pounds to ship tobacco from GAINESVILLE
to New York then some Of our farmers
will be badly left on their $500 lugs
which won't pay freight by so cents on
the hundred. The GAINESVILLE Commit
tee of tobacco men will protest in
person in Congress to prevent this out
rage,
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-01-15

SomervilIe Falcon The Avalanche
has taken very correct stand upon
the caucus question which will he
solved by the Democratic members OF
the Legislature. The caucus is politi-
cal evil, which is very necessary for
the dominant and responsible party
in Government to mention its SUI
premacy. Let Democrats fight among
Democrats, but present the enemy with
a solid front. This course will alone
prevent harsh and hard charges OF
bargain and intrigue with the oppo-
Nputk
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-01-15

Hopklnsville New Era: The Clarks-
vile Board of Trade has sent a com
mittee to Washington to protest against
the passage OF the Interstate Commerce
bill, AS soon as these gentlemen de-
liver themselves Congress can at once
dispose Of the measure.
Not exactly that way, neighbor.
Congress will never be SO rash us TO
take final action on this important
measure until Hopkinswlle and other
rural precincts are heard from.
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-01-15

PADGETT's Blair bill resolution was
knocked into "pi'' and kicked into the
middle of the sweet bye and bye in the
State Senate this week. THIS was one
of Col. Colyar's pets and his dry-forever
prohibition scheme is likely to share
a similar fate when at the polls the peo-
pie choose the present four-mile law in
preference to this beated specimen OF
Yankee morality.
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-01-15

WE call attention to an article from
the National Review which appears
elsewhere on Caucus Kickers" Lit
tleton gets at the inwardness Of the op-
position to the caucus in a manner that
is truly exhiliarating He talks straight
cut common sense and "pizen." Re-
publican though he in his remarks de-
s erve the caaeiul consideration of Demo-
Gratis. Look as he says from what quar-
ter comes the opposition to this inn
portant measure and then say what is
the overwhelming sentiment of the
Democratic party upon the question.
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-01-15

ESQ. URsERY and other good Demo
Gratis of the 18th District have expressed
themselves to us concerning the banner
which they have won. They want the
prssentation to take place at Guiser's
School House on the Clarksville and
Wayerly road, one and half miles
from GAINESVILLE, aud while all Demo
,rats are invited to attend they want
John ]. West to receive the banner
rom Chairman Mcconnell and present
Il 10 George Armstrong Chairman Of
of District No. Is.
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-01-15

FAYETTEVILLE Observer: A legisla
tive caucus by the political party thai
has thirty-iour majority on joint ballot,
to nominate a candidate for United
States Senator, means the election OF .
certain Democrat and the defeat OF GER
tain other Democrats.
Our esteemed contemporary is partly
right and partly wrong. A legislative
caucus means the election of certain
Democrat and "the defeat of ''uncer-
tain" Democrats.